Combination ski pole and ski lock



Jan. 10, 1967 R. c. SCHWEDT ET AL 3,297,333

COMBINATION SKI POLE AND SKI LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1964 INVENTOR.

ROBERT c. SCHWEDT BY a EDWARD A. ATWILL Me /3W3 ATTORNEYS Jan. 10, 1967 Q c w ETAL 3,297,333

COMBINATION SKI POLE AND SKI LOCK Filed May 27, 1964 2 sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7 FIG. 8

INVENTOR. ROBERT C. SCHWEDT BY 8: EDWARD A. ATWILL ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,297,333 COMBINATION SKI POLE AND SKI LOCK Robert C. Schwedt, Buffalo, and Edward A. Atwill,

Eggertsville, N.Y., assignors to Golding Wave Clip (30., Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.

Filed May 27, 1964, Ser. No. 370,621 9 Claims. (Cl. 28011.37)

This invention relates generally to means for preventing the loss or theft of ski equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to a new and useful ski pole wrist strap and locking device combination in which the ski pole wrist strap also can be used as a tie strap to lock and secure ski equipment together and to a convenient fixed anchor.

Loss of ski equipment, from theft and otherwise, is a serious problem of severe proportions. Good equipment is expensive, and its loss poses an economic hardship as well as a source of annoyance and inconvenience.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple yet effectivedevice for securing and locking ski equipment, includingskis and ski poles, to each other and to a fixed anchor.

Another object of this invention is to provide the foregoing as part of the ski equipment itself.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lock and ski pole combination in which the ski pole wrist strap also is usable as a tie strap.

In one aspect thereof, a lock and ski pole combination of our invention is characterized by the provision, in combination with a ski pole having a handle, of a wrist strap carried by the handle, one end of the strap being selectively detachable from the handle for threading the strap through ski bindings and a second ski pole wrist strap and about any convenient fixed anchor, the strap end being reengagable with the handle.

These and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of our invention will become more clearly apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of two illustrative embodiments thereof, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings depicting the same, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a ski pole incorporating a locking arrangement of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic view illustrating the manner in which the lock of our invention is used to secure skis and ski poles to each other and to a fixed anchor;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view through the upper end of the handle, showing the removable end of the wrist strap detached from the handle lock;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective View showing the opposite end members of the wrist strap in disengaged position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the handle, with the lock and end cap removed, showing the strap anchor member;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the assembled handle, with the wrist strap shown in its fully attached position, for use as a wrist strap;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view through a modified form of ski pole and lock of our invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view thereof, taken about on line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view thereof, taken about on line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, but showing the strap lock in its unlocked position; and

FIG. 11 is a somewhat schematic, fragmentary perspective view showing the ski pole and lock of our inven- "ice tion with the wrist strap used as a tie, for fastening a conventional ski pole thereto.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-6 a ski pole of our invention comprising a shank 1 and a handle 2 which can be of rubber, plastic or any suitable material and which can be fastened to the upper end of shank 1 in a manner known to the art. The lower end of the pole is conventional, as shown in FIG. 2.

Handle 2 is open at its upper end, having a recess 3 stepped, to provide a shoulder 4 around a deeper recess 5, the recesses 3 and 5 also being open on one side of the handle, as shown at 6.

Recess 5 receives an anchor member 7 fixed in place therein as by a screw 8 and having an eye portion 9 projecting outwardly through the open side 6, beyond the profile of the handle proper.

A wrist strap 10 is threaded through the eye 9 of anchor member 7, so as to be freely slidable therethrough from one end of the strap to the other. A first locking end member 11 is carried by strap 10 at one end thereof, the strap being looped about the member 11 and then fastened upon itself, while a second locking end member 12 is similarly secured to the opposite end of strap 10, for being carried thereby. The end members 11, 12, in addition to their locking function, prevent strap 10 from passing completely through the eye 9 of anchor member 7.

Locking member 11 is provided with a pair of fingers 13 having inwardly extending ends 14 which latter will receive a lock tongue 15 while engaging behind outwardly projecting flanges 16 at the outer end thereof. Tongue 15 is provided at its inner end with an anchor flange formation 17 engaging behind at least one of the opposite sides 18 of a lock housing having a slotted top wall 19. Combination wheels 20 are carried by a shaft 21 journaled in the housing side walls 18, and have cam formations 22 for holding the latch tongue 15 in locking position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 3. A spring 23 urges the tongue 15 into this position. An end cap 24 closes the upper end of the handle, and conceals the lock mechanism, except for the upper portions of the combination wheels 20, which project therethrough for external actuation.

When it is desired to use strap 10 as a wrist strap, it is doubled over upon itself, with the tongue 25 of end member 12 extending between fingers '13 of end member 11, and with the laterally projecting flanges 26 on the tongue 25 engaging over the end member 11, whereby the end member 12 is secured to end member 11. This is easily accomplished by threading the tongue 25 and its cars 26 between the fingers 13, 14 of end member 1 1. Then, end member 11 is inserted through the open side 6 of handle 2, beneath the outer end of tongue 15, between it and the forwardly projecting fingers 27 of the lock housing sidewalls 18. Assuming that the combination wheels 20 are properly set, tongue 15 is biased upwardly by spring 23, to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, permitting passage of end member 1 1 therebeneath. Once the end member flanges 14 pass beyond the tongue flanges 16, rotation of wheels 20 cam tongue 15 to its looking position, in which the flanges 14 are confined behind the dianges 16 and withdrawal of end member 11 through slot 6 is prevented. Turning any one of the combination wheels 20 out of its release position, will position its cam 22 to hold tongue 15 in looking position.

With the strap thus locked to the handle, it will be seen that the tongue 25, 26 of end member 12 is so closely confined ibetween end member 1 1 and handle 2 that it cannot be freed from end member 11 because there is not sutficient room to twist the one end member relative 3 to the other, for threading them out of engagement with each other. Thus, the one lock, on the handle, holds the opposite ends of strap in locking engagement with each other, and with the handle 2, permitting strap 10 to be used in the manner of an ordinary wrist strap.

When it is desired to utilize strap 10 as a tie, the combination wheels 20 are set to a position releasing tongue 15, permitting end member 11 to be withdrawn through the open side 6 of the handle. End member 12 then can be turned and disengaged from end member 11, and the strap pulled through eye 9 as far as permitted by end member 12. The strap then can be threaded through the strap 10 of a conventional ski pole handle 2', and through the bindings 27 of skis 28, and around a fixed anchor such as the tree 29. When this is done, end member 11 is reengaged with the lock tongue 15, and the wheels 20 are manipulated to lock tongue in its locking position, whereupon the various pieces of ski equipment are tied together, and to the anchor, in a manner preventing the loss or theft thereof.

It will be appreciated that the lock mechanism 15-21 can be of any conventional construction, suitable for the purpose, the details of which are not per se a part of this invention. The end cap 24 is afiixed to the handle by any desired means, and the cap 24, anchor member 7 and various parts associated therewith are so positioned as to effectively prevent tampering with the lock when the member 11 is in locking engagement with tongue 15.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7-11, there is shown a ski pole having a shaft 30 and a handle 31 bonded thereto. Handle 31 is further anchored in place by a screw 32 engaging a plug 33 in the upper end of shaft 30.

The upper end of handle 31 is bored, as shown at 34, lengthwise of the handle, to receive the enlarged, lower end 35 of a cylindrical plunger in slidable engagement therewith. The plunger end 35 is recessed, to receive the upper end of a spring 36 urging the plunger to its locking position, as shown in FIG. 7.

The upper end portion 37 of the plunger is of reduced diameter, relative to the lower end portion 35, and is formed with a series of longitudinally spaced keys 38. A pair of combination wheels 39 are rotatable on the plunger portion 37, and are formed with keyways 40 adapted to pass the two lowermost keys 38 when the wheels 39 and plunger portion 37 are in the correct relaaive position. The uppermost key 38 is designed to pass through a reduced neck 41 on a locking end member 42 carried by a strap 43, upon proper relative orientation, and plunger 37 has a portion 44 of further reduced diameter, which also is adapted to pass through the neck 41 of the end member 42. The upper end of plunger portion 37 carries an enlarged head 45, provided with indicia to function as a combination wheel.

The wheels 39 are mounted in an end cap 46 secured to the recessed upper end of handle 31 as by an anchor bolt 47 which also anchors the opposite end of strap 43 to the handle. A spring detent 48 is carried by a recessed portion of an upstanding projection 49 of the handle 31, which detent snaps into engagement with vertical grooves 50 on combination wheels 39, to releasably retain them in the position to which they are turned.

With the parts in the position shown in FIG. 7, the strap end member 42 cannot 'be withdrawn from the cap portion 46, because the plunger portion 37 is engaged in the opening 51 of the member 42, and is too large to pass through the reduced width neck 41. The strap then functions as an ordinary wrist strap.

When it is desired to use strap 43 as a tie, the combination wheels 39, 45 are rotated, to position detents 38 in alignment with neck 41 and keyways 40, whereupon plunger 35, 37 can be depressed, against the action of spring 36, bringing the reduced diameter plunger portion 44 into alignment with the neck 41. End member 42 then can be withdrawn, and the strap threaded through a conventional wrist strap 10, the bindings 27, and around an anchor such as tree 29, as described above. End member 42 then is reinserted in'the handle cap 46, and the plunger 35, 37 rotated, along with wheels 39, to retain the plunger in its locking position. It will be appreciated that the keys 38 abut member 42 and wheels 39, when the plunger is in locking position, to preclude movement of the plunger out of locking position.

Accordingly, it is seen that our invention fully accomplishes its intended objects. While we have disclosed and described in detail only two embodiments of our invention, that has been done by way of illustration only, without though of limitation, it being understood that the scope of our invention is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described our invention, and its mode of operation, what we claim as new is:

1. A combination ski pole and locking device comprising, in combination with a ski pole having a handle, an anchor member carried by said handle, a wrist strap slidable through said anchor member, a first end member carried by said strap adjacent one end thereof, a second end member carried by said strap adjacent the opposite end thereof, said end members preventing separation of said strap from said anchor member, means carried by said handle for releasable engagement with one of said end members, the other of said end members being releasably engageable with said one end member, said other end member being disengageable from said one end member only when said one end member is disengaged from said handle, whereby when said other end member is engaged with said one end member and the latter is engaged with said handle said strap is doubled upon itself and functions as a wrist strap, and whereby said one end member can be disengaged from said handle and said other end member for utilization of the full length of said strap as a tie, said one end member being engageable with said handle when said end members are disengaged.

2. A combination ski pole wrist strap and locking device comprising, in combination with a ski pole handle, a wrist strap carried by said handle, a lock carried within said handle, said lock having a tongue movable into and out of locking position and means selectively operable to maintain said tongue in said locking position, and a member carried by said strap for latching engagement with said tongue within said handle.

3. A combination ski pole wrist strap and locking device comprising, in combination with a ski pole handle, a wrist strap carried by said handle, a lock carried by said handle, said lock having a plunger movable into and out of locking position and means selectively operable to maintain said plunger in said locking position, and a member carried by said strap for latching engagement with said plunger, said member having an opening for said plunger and a reduced neck portion permitting passage of said plunger into and out of said opening only when said plunger is out of said locking position.

4. A combination ski pole wrist strap and locking device comprising, in combination with a ski pole handle, a wrist strap carried by said handle, a lock carried within said handle, said lock having a member movable into and out of locking position, and a latch member carried by said strap for releasable engagement with said lock member within said handle.

5. A combination ski pole wrist strap and locking device as set forth in claim 4, together wit-h spring means resiliently urging said lock member into said locking position, and combination means controlling movement of said lock member out of said locking position.

6. A combination ski pole wrist strap and locking device comprising, in combination with a ski pole handle, a wrist strap carried by said handle, means detachably connecting one end of said wrist strap to said handle, and means detachably connecting the opposite end of said wrist strap to said one end thereof, said opposite end of said strap being detachable from said one end thereof only when the latter is disconnected from said handle.

7. A combination wrist strap and locking device comprising, in combination with a ski pole handle, a wrist strap carried by said handle, one end of said strap being detachable from said handle for utilizing said strap as a tie, said strap being slidable between its ends relative to said handle, the opposite end of said strap being detachably connected to said one end of said strap and separable therefrom only when said one end of said strap is detached from said handle.

8. In combination with a piece of equipment having'a handle and a wrist strap carried by said handle, means securing said Wrist strap to said handle including a locking member carried by said strap and an anchor member fixed to said handle, means carried by said handle for releasably engaging said locking member, said strap being slidable relative to one of said members, and means References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,35 0,799 6/ 1944 Morris 7059 FOREIGN PATENTS 227,994 1/ 1925 Great Britain.

54,028 6/ 1934 Norway. 94,7 19 9/ 1959 Norway.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

MILTON SMITH, Examiner. 

4. A COMBINATION SKI POLE WRIST STRAP AND LOCKING DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION WITH A SKI POLE HANDLE, A WRIST STRAP CARRIED BY SAID HANDLE, A LOCK CARRIED WITHIN SAID HANDLE, SAID LOCK HAVING A MEMBER MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF LOCKING POSITION, AND A LATCH MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID STRAP FOR RELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOCK MEMBER WITHIN SAID HANDLE. 